So they fixed the squeaky noise after calling the hyper intelligent engineers from their plant. But my car's sad story was not to end here. Soon after the service, my started steering to the left. Apparently I was dumb enough to get the wheel alignment done from the Volkswagen workshop; they obviously screwed it up and my perfectly balanced car was now unaligned.
More problems: Steering rack is damaged
My steering started making a clicking noise. The noise seemed to be coming from the axle. I did some research online and realized the steering rack could be the issue, hence sent the car to the workshop and was proved correct. Fortunately, this part is covered under warranty, only problem being that the part wasn't available in the workshop. It had to be imported from Germany and ended up taking almost a month to arrive. Finally got my car to the workshop and the issue got resolved.More Steering Issues: the chuck chuck noise
Barely a few weeks after the steering rack was fixed, I started noticing a new sound emanating from the steering wheel. It came only when the steering was turned a lot at very low speeds. I ignored the noise for some time thinking that maybe I was becoming obsessive about every little niggle and continued driving. The noise didn't stop though so eventually I sent the car to the workshop.
A side story. Whilst all this was going on, someone bumped my car and the protective panel under the front bumper became slightly unhinged.
After checking the car for the steering noise, a certain Mr. Som from the Volkswagen frontier workshop tells me.
Som: Sir, I just test drove the vehicle and there is a very large amount of noise coming from the car over potholes.
Me: Puzzled look (thinking fatka lag gaya)
Som: Sir, the bumper is so loose, so much noise (presses the bumper with his hand to show how loose it is. It's not; only one side of the under panel of the bumper is unhinged)
Me: Noise from the bumper. ammm. Sure I have never noticed it but if you say so.
Som: Get the bumper fixed first
Me: ammm... okay
Som: It seems like the shocker mount (which is made of rubber) has gotten damaged
Me: ammm..damaged...how
Som: Yes sir, this happens due to driving over potholes.
Me: (thinking whether I should start driving indoors to avoid potholes on Indian roads) how much does the rubber shocker mount cost
Som: Rs 5,500 and rubber parts are not covered under warranty
Me: (getting mini heart attack and cursing myself for getting the Rs 8,000 two year extended warranty)
Som: Get this fixed first, then I will be in a better position to say whether the sound is coming from the shocker mount
The insurance guy at the workshop told me that this (physical) damage could or could not be covered under insurance due to reasons like multiple damages on the car etc. If the insurance doesn't cover the physical damage, that means an expense of almost Rs.5,000 on the physical damage plus 5500 bucks for the shocker mount and I don't even know whether the mount is the problem. The explanation given by Som was: Sir, everything that happens with the car is felt by the driver through the steering. Don't know what to make of that but why would the shocker mount make a 'chucking' noise that too only while turning, even on butter smooth surfaces like a parking lot.
Anyway, as of now I will get the insurance agent's verdict in a couple of days post which the entire fatka amount will be decided. I have finally started regretting buying this car. Funny thing is that I still love my car, it's my first car.
Will keep posting updates on what follows.
